Why Apollo Gleneagles Hospital In Kolkata Dressed Up Newborn Triplets As Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra

Days after Rath Yatra, photographs of newborn triplets -- two boys and a girl -- dressed up as deities Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra at Kolkata’s Apollo Gleneagles Hospital have started circulating on social media. In the photographs, the newborns are seen lying on a cushion covered in golden satin, decked-up in the finest brocaded silk, wearing imitation pearl necklaces and sequined headgears. 

Ever since the pictures have surfaced on social media, many termed them “cute” and “adorable”, while others slammed the hospital for being “insensitive”.

To find out more, Outlook reached the hospital and spoke to the officials here.    

“They were born a month before the Rath Yatra and not on the day of festival, as many of the social media have claimed,” an official at the hospital who did not want to be named  said.   

“They were born prematurely. It was a difficult pregnancy. We were trying to find ways of cheering up the parents, who had gone through a lot. Since everything eventually turned out well and the babies were all healthy, we decided to celebrate in some way. They remained in the hospital for the post-natal care for more than a month. Finally, on the holy occasion of Rath Yatra the idea struck us,” the official aded.

The hospital said it had taken precautionary measures before the occasion. 

"The clothes which were brought from outside – not custom-made but bought – had been sterilised as per our rule, and the room was fumigated. There was no chance of infection…the costumes were not directly touching their skin, another official said. 

According to the hospital, the parents were thrilled when they heard the idea and even allowed a photo session of their babies.

“We do various activities for other patients as well, to give them a psychological boost when they are at the hospital,” the official added. "This was a farewell from us to the babies of whom we all grew so fond."